Whether you’re after a fun family day out or a bit of exercise, you’ll find plenty of swimming pools in and around Leeds.

From gyms and leisure centres to stand-alone pools that make entertaining the kids a priority, there are loads of places to go swimming in and around Leeds. The question is, which should you choose? We’ve rounded them up in one handy list, with local pools alongside a few drive-worthy days out.

Swimming pools right here in Leeds

These local pools are perfect for keeping fit, with lessons and swim sessions for the whole family.

Bramley Baths

Since it opened in 1904 as a public pool and bathhouse, Bramley Baths has been one of the best places to go swimming in Leeds. It’s a community-led, not-for-profit fitness centre, which makes us love it that little bit more. As well as swimming sessions and lessons with ASA-trained instructors, they also offer pool parties – how much would the kids love that? It’s £4.50 for an adult swim, £2.50 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free. While you’re there, why not make the most of the steam room, gym and fitness classes?

Bramley Baths, Broad Lane, Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS13 3DF.

Kirkstall Leisure Centre

Kirkstall Leisure Centre is a great place to go swimming in Leeds, with a 25-metre pool alongside a learner’s pool that’s perfect for beginners. They have a timetable of swim sessions, ranging from women-only to general lane and big splash family swimming – and if you’re up for classes, you can always try out aqua aerobics or aqua zumba. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

Ilkley Pool and Lido

This is definitely one of the best swimming pools in Leeds. Ilkley Lido has both an indoor and an outdoor pool. It’s open from May to September, giving you a chance to swim in the sun, with somewhere to retreat if the weather turns. Along with the pool, there’s a picnic area, fountain, putting green and tennis courts, not to mention a cracking view of Ilkley Moor. Prices start from £4.65 for an adult swim and £2.45 for a child swim – they also do kids’ parties, if you want a grand day out.

Ilkley Pool and Lido, Denton Road, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 0BZ.

Armley Leisure Centre

Not just for swimmers, Armley Leisure Centre is home to a whole host of fitness activities, with football and gymnastics among them – but it’s the pools that we’re particularly interested in today. They’ve got three – a five-lane 25-metre pool for those of you looking to get your laps in, a smaller 10-metre learner pool for those of you who are just starting out and a hydrotherapy pool for those of you who require physiotherapy. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

Armley Leisure Centre, Carr Crofts, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS12 3HB.

Kippax Leisure Centre

Kippax Leisure Centre is one of the best places to go swimming in East Leeds. It’s home to a five-lane, 25-metre pool – you can take a dip at their general swim sessions or pop in for Let’s Get Active, Synchronised Swimming and SwimFit. They do a full range of swimming lessons for the kids too and there’s a 4-court sports hall. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

John Charles Centre for Sport

John Charles Centre For Sport is home to one of the best swimming pools in Leeds. It has a 50-metre pool and a 25-metre pool, but what makes this particular leisure centre different is the diving pool – which comes complete with five diving platforms and two springboards. They offer a range of swimming and diving lessons to help you pick up new skills and perfect your technique – or you can just enjoy a good swim. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

Rothwell Leisure Centre

Rothwell Leisure Centre has loads going on. You can learn to swim and dive with their classes, or even have a go at synchronised swimming. The kids can get to grips with the the doggy paddle and the forward stroke in the learner pool, while you do lengths in the big 25-metre pool. They have Big Splash Family Swimming, Sub Aqua Club and Let’s Get Active to keep everyone entertained, as well as a 111-station gym, specialist spin studio and two sports halls. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

The Edge

You don’t have to be a student at the University of Leeds to use The Edge, it’s open to everyone. You can sign up for a monthly membership with prices starting from £40.60 depending on when you want to go – and that gives you access to the gym, the exercise classes, and of course, the pool. Alternatively, you can pay on a session by session basis with prices starting from £5.50. They’ve got a state-of-the-art eight-lane, 25-metre pool with variable depth and run all manner of lessons, from swimming to aqua aerobics.

The Edge, University of Leeds, Willow Terrace Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT.

Morley Leisure Centre

Morley Leisure Centre has everything for you need for a quality dip. The 25-metre pool holds general swim sessions that everyone can enjoy, as well as Family Swim, SwimFit and Fun Session. They have a learner pool if you’re just starting out, and it’s also great for disabled swimmers, with state-of-the-art facilities like H-frame hoists, pool hoists and graded steps. Alongside the pool, there’s a 132-station gym and two huge sports halls. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

The Forum Leisure Centre

Just a hop, skip and a jump from Leeds city centre and open to those who work at nearby Quarry House, DWP and West Yorkshire Playhouse – The Forum Leisure Centre has a 25-metre swimming pool alongside a learner’s pool for those of you looking to perfect your forward crawl. An adult swim is £2.50 with a child swim for just £1.35 – or you can get unlimited access to the pool for £17 a month. As well as the pool, there’s a squash court, sports hall, 41-station gym, cycling studio and a cafe to make the most of.

Fearnville Leisure Centre

Perfect for folk of all ages and abilities, Fearnville Leisure Centre has a 25-metre pool and a learner’s pool. They offer all manner of lessons for those of you looking to brush up your skills and you can also take advantage of the other facilities on site, which include squash, gymnastics, parkour, tennis and boxing. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

Aireborough Leisure Centre

Out in Guiseley, Aireborough Leisure Centre is home to one of the most popular swimming pools in North West Leeds. It’s got a 25-metre pool which plays host to a range of different activities, from inflatable fun sessions for under 16s to Wet & Wicked, a kids’ swim that’s brought to life with sound and light. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free. Aireborough Leisure Centre also has its own football league, a 54-station gym, sports halls and even a climbing wall.

Aireborough Leisure Centre, The Green, Guiseley, West Yorkshire, LS20 9BT. The pool is currently closed for refurbishment, but due to reopen in Autumn 2018.

Holt Park Active

Slap bang in the middle of Adel and Cookridge, Holt Park Active is the perfect swimming pool for both beginners and experts. It’s kitted out with a standard 25-metre pool, as well as a mini learner pool where the little ones can make their first forays in the water. It’s also home to a hydrotherapy pool, which is great for working out any aches or pains. You can even follow up your dip with a session in the 70-station gym or a game in their 2-court sports hall. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

Holt Park Active, Holtdale Approach, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS16 7RX.

John Smeaton Leisure Centre

Based between Cross Gates and Scholes, John Smeaton Leisure Centre is home to a 53-station gym, a synthetic sports pitch and two sports halls, but it’s their 25-metre pool that we’re concerned with today. They have a whole host of water-based activities for you to get involved in, including Big Splash, which will see the whole family having fun in the water with equipment and floats to play with. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

Chippendale Swimming Pool

If you’re looking for a swimming pool to go to in Otley, Chippendale is the one. It’s a dedicated swim-centre with a 4-lane 25-metre pool, so swimming is their main and only focus. They have a wide-ranging programme from 7am until 9pm every day and you can choose from loads of different sessions, from general swimming to Let’s Get Active classes and swimming lessons. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

Pudsey Leisure Centre

Alongside a huge 76-station gym, a sports hall and even a dance studio, Pudsey Leisure Centre is home to a 25-metre pool that’s surely one of the best in Leeds. They have a range of swimming sessions at the Leeds pool, with something for adults and kids alike – and you can also take advantage of their lessons if you’re just starting out. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

Wetherby Leisure Centre

If you’re out in Wetherby, the leisure centre is the place to go swimming. It’s only a small facility, but it’s got a 25-metre pool where you can expect all the usual sessions, from Big Splash Family Swimming to Female Only, Stage 8 and SwimFit. There’s a 40-station adults gym, as well as a junior gym for the younger crowd. It’s £5 for an adult swim, £2.70 for a child swim and kids under 5 go free.

Swimming pools well worth the drive

There are some amazing swimming pools near Leeds that are worth the extra effort if you’re after something special.

Eccleshill Pool

Eccleshill Pool in Bradford is a great place to go swimming by yourself or with the family. Each year, it attracts around 150,000 visitors to its two pools which come complete with a 20-metre waterslide and diving boards – making this a great day out for families. If you don’t want to get wet, but still want to watch the fun, they have a handy spectator area, so you can keep an eye on the action with a nice cup of tea. It’s £4.75 for an adult swim, £2.45 for a child swim and kids under 3 go free.

Eccleshill Pool, Harrogate Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD10 0QE.

Richard Dunn Sports Centre

Richard Dunn Sports Centre is well worth leaving Leeds for, especially if you’ve got kids in tow. This isn’t your usual, bog-standard pool, in fact, they call it the Jungle Adventure Pool, because you won’t just be swimming. You can whizz down the Cobra, their black hole waterslide, take a more leisurely trip on the Zambezee tyre ride or splash around with the kids in the Hippo Pool. Admission is £1.50 for adults and 75p for kids, then it’s £4.75 for an adult swim and £2.45 for a child swim – but if you want to add the slides to your trip, it’s £7.80 for adults and £5.15 for kids.

The Hydro

Believe it or not, the historic spa town of Harrogate is home to one of the most impressive, modern swimming pools in the region – and it’s just a hop, skip and a jump from Leeds. The Hydro has three pools including an eight-lane 25-metre pool, a training pool and a multi-purpose activity pool with diving boards that you can learn to use with a variety of lessons available for all skill levels. It’s £4.90 for an adult swim, £2.40 for a child swim, £1.10 for toddlers aged 2-3 and kids under 2 go free.

The Hydro, Jenny Field Drive, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2HR.

Calypso Cove

Barnsley is home to one of the best waterparks in the UK, in the form of Calypso Cove. There are four swimming pools for you to choose from – Still Waters is a standard 25-metre pool open for general swimming and lessons and Calypso Cove is an adventure pool with slides, water flumes and a wave machine. There’s also Walk the Plank which has two diving boards and Coconut Creek which is just for toddlers. It’s £12.60 for a 3-hour adult swim at peak times, £10.90 for a child swim and £2 for kids under 3.

Doncaster Dome

Talk about having everything under one roof – Doncaster Dome is home to an ice skating rink, play zone, sports centre and concert hall, but it’s the swimming pool that has our attention. It’s well worth leaving Leeds for, with a host of geysers, fountains, jets and airbeds to enjoy in the Amazonian Adventure, alongside a more conventional pool perfect for general swimming. It’s £6 for an adult entry to the Amazonian Adventure, £4.50 for a junior entry and free for kids under 5.

Shipley Pool

The Shipley Pool is one of Bradford’s top competition pools, so you know you’re in for a good dip here. They have a 25-metre double shallow ended pool where you can do their swimming sessions and classes, as well as a teaching pool and a diving pool with two high boards and two springboards. It’s £4.60 for adults and £2.35 for kids. While you’re here, they also have an extensive ClubActive health and fitness suite for you to workout in.

Shipley Pool, 5 Alexandra Road, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 3ER.

Huddersfield Leisure Centre

Huddersfield Leisure Centre is home to one of the most impressive swimming complexes in Yorkshire. Not only do they have an 8-lane 25-metre swimming pool, where you can do everything from general swimming to Aqua Zumba, but it also has a Splash Park with a water flume, sidewinder and lazy river. It’s £5.65 for adults and £3.40 for juniors in the regular pool, or £4.40 for adults and £2.50 for juniors in the Splash Park.

Keighley Leisure Centre

Keighley Leisure Centre is the biggest of its kind in northern Bradford – it’s home to a sports centre, a ClubActive fitness centre, a sauna, steam rooms and a function hall, as well as brilliant swimming facilities. They have a leisure pool with deck-level water for general swim sessions, as well as a learner pool and a 40-metre waterslide with a plunge pool for the little (or big) kids. It’s £4.75 for adults and £2.45 for kids.